Appointments

The doctors can be seen weekdays Monday to Friday from 08:30 until midday and from 15:30 until 18:00.

The appointment telephone number is 0121 440 1561 and is open Monday, Tuesday and Friday 08:30 to 18:30 and on Wednesday and Thursday between 08:30 and 13:00.

You are entitled to express a preference for which doctor you are registered with. If the doctor of your choice is not available you will be offered an alternative doctor. You may wait a long time to see a doctor of your choice. Doctors work different hours, which makes it harder to see some doctors than others. Please tell the receptionist if there is an important reason for you to see the doctor of your choice quickly. We will always do our best to help.

Each appointment is for one person only. If you want several members of your family seen or problems dealt with, each person will need to have their own appointment.

In all surgeries we try to keep to time but sometimes run late. Someone may have been very ill or upset and your doctor may have had to see them urgently or spend extra time with them. Please be patient when this happens – one day it may be you.

Urgent Appointments

Where there are no routine appointments left on a particular day we have an emergency sit & wait session. This session is only for urgent medical problems that cannot wait until the next day. You must call the surgery first to discuss and be invited to attend. The doctor will only deal with urgent problems.

Cancellations

If you cannot attend an appointment for any reason please inform us as soon as possible in order for us to give the slot to someone else. Please ring the cancellation line on 0121 440 5772 ( please note this line is for cancellations ONLY)

Home Visits

Visits requested are for people who are too ill or disabled to attend surgery. For non-urgent visits within working hours please telephone before 10:30 on the day the visit is required.

You may request a visit if you feel that it is necessary on these grounds. Usually a doctor will telephone and gather more information before deciding whether or not a visit is necessary. It is the doctor’s decision whether the patient’s care needs a home visit.

It would help the doctor to plan the order of visits if you give some information about why the visit is requested and any instructions that would make finding your address easier.

Please give a contact telephone number so the doctor can contact you if further information is needed.

Sickness Certificates

You do not require a doctor's sickness certificate for any illness lasting seven days or less. Your employer may however require you to complete a self-certification form (SC2) which is available from your employer or on the HMRC website.

Evidence that you are sick

If you are sick for more than seven days, your employer can ask you to give them some form of medical evidence to support payment of SSP (statutory sick pay).

It is up to your employer to decide whether you are incapable of work. A medical certificate, now called a 'Statement of Fitness for Work’ (see below) from your doctor is strong evidence that you are sick and would normally be accepted, unless there is evidence to prove otherwise.

You could also provide evidence from someone who is not a medical practitioner, e.g. a dentist. Your employer will decide whether or not this evidence is acceptable. If your employer has any doubts, they may still ask for a medical certificate from your GP.

Statement of Fitness for Work - ’Fit Note'

The 'fit note' was introduced on 6 April 2010. With your employer's support, the note will help you return to work sooner by providing more information about the effects of your illness or injury.

Medical Education

We teach medical students during term time from the University of Birmingham. The practice is also involved in post-graduate GP registrar training and the retainer scheme. We also have student nurses working with us to experience the work they are training to do.

There will be a notice displayed when the students are here. It is of course your choice if you do not wish a student to be present during your consultation.